We at TREMG love spotlighting rising and underappreciated talent to give underground creators a platform and the recognition they deserve. But while we love a good monthly roundup, there’s so much great music coming out on a weekly basis that we wanted to share even more. And artists like NIKI and Zach Seabaugh were killing it this week! Here’s what you may have missed over the past few days.

TREMG Interviews

This week, we got to speak to three incredible artists about their work: Friend of a Friend, JustMakeMeCry, and Ada Marques! Be sure to check out our writeups to dive into their creative discographies, and tune into their latest projects on your favorite streaming service.

TREMG Roundups

May gave us some pretty incredible new music… so much that it was easy to get overwhelmed and let some gems slip through the cracks. Check out our roundup of some new songs you need in your rotation – you might just find your new favorite jam!

New Signings

Congratulations to SM Entertainment’s incredibly talented girl group aespa, who just announced their new partnership with Warner Records just weeks after a groundbreaking performance at Coachella! Warner will help the girls expand their reach more than ever to promote their upcoming second mini-album, Girls, and we can’t wait to see the results. We can already hear some of them thanks to their simply delectable new single, “Illusion.” aespa are the future, so keep your eye on these astonishing stars.

We are thrilled to be welcomed into the Warner Records family and so grateful to have them on board as we embark on our next chapter. We are excited for what’s in store, including the release of our new project, Girls – The 2nd Mini Album this summer and being named Apple Music’s Up Next artist!

aespa

New Singles

Zach Seabaugh delivers a chill pop track with “Slingshot,” an R&B-infused song about what it feels like to be at peace and full of lively energy. It’s no wonder he was a semi-finalist on The Voice back in 2018 – he always matches the atmosphere of the story he wants to tell so beautifully with his vocals.  And of course, sleek production from Chance Peña (who worked on John Legend’s “Conversations In The Dark”) can never hurt! 

I spent a few days writing and recording in LA back in August of 2021. I felt super inspired and remember sitting on the balcony of my buddy Chance’s place watching the sunset and started singing the chorus to the song. We immediately looked at each other and went inside to finish writing it, which we recorded and finished that night. It’s not necessarily about a specific place or person, but it’s about that feeling you get when you are with the person or at the place that makes you feel most alive and happy.

Zach Seabaugh

We’ve never heard NIKI quite like this “Before,” and we can’t get enough! Ahead of her upcoming album, Nicole, “Before” is a heart-wrenching reflection on a relationship that didn’t end how NIKI hoped it would, with tender lyrics and vulnerable vocals that will really get you where it hurts. Olivia Rodrigo fans, listen up! “Before” has the mellow guitar vibes that Olivia’s “hope ur ok” give us, with the painfully detailed lyrics of “traitor” and stunning harmonies of “drivers license.” NIKI is set to be the next Gen Z pop superstar like she deserves, and “Before” is a mesmerizing stop on the ride.

‘Before’ is the irresolute ending to my very first love story. I wrote it as a means to create the kind of closure I never had. I also feel it’s ironically poetic to open this new chapter by telling you how it ends first. I’m so proud of it, and I can’t think of a better song to introduce the ultimate break-up record I’ve always fantasized of putting out but somehow haven’t… until now.

NIKI

Shinedown prove that their future is brighter than “Daylight” with the latest offering from their Planet Zero album, due July 1st. It’s a raw account of what it’s like to be human in the midst of a pandemic, the digital age, and a seemingly global state of depression. No matter who you are or where you come from, there’s bound to be something in “Daylight” that really speaks to you and resonates with your own experiences. It encourages the listener to step back and see the hope of their future and potential, delivering a poignant message everyone needs to hear.

It’s our humanity. It’s an understanding that we’re all on this planet together, and we’ve got to figure out ways to take care of one another. A lot of times, it may just be asking someone ‘are you okay?’ because you could potentially save someone’s life just by asking. We can’t lose our empathy and courage towards each other, or our willingness to pick someone up if you see them on their knees, because there’s gonna be a moment in time when you need someone to pick you up.

Frontman Brent Smith

New Albums

Post Malone touches on his relationship with fame, alcohol abuse, and worlds more with Twelve Carat Toothache, his fourth studio album that just might be his most introspective, impressive work to date. With a star-studded feature list that includes the likes of Doja Cat and The Weeknd, Post lets us into his world more than ever while also getting to flex the success he’s achieved so far and the friends he’s made along the way.

Some of our favorite tracks include the vulnerable opener “Reputation,” the complementary “I Like You (A Happier Song)” and “I Cannot Be (A Sadder Song),” and the raw “Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol,” which he first unveiled in a Saturday Night Live performance with Fleet Foxes.

Live Events

Chicago LGBT babes, make sure you stop by Pride In The Park this June to see incredible queer artists like Saucy Santana, Daya, and Rebecca Black, as well as headliners like Alesso, The Chainsmokers, and a surprise guest that’s yet to be announced. Everything about this show-stopping lineup is calling to us! And if you’re 21 or older, you can upgrade your experience with VIP tickets that get you access to special viewing areas, an express entrance, and even more. Go grab your tickets here before they sell out!

Which of this week’s new releases and announcements are you most hyped about? Let us know in the comments below or link up with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!